Cheryl Wiegand, who opened Pride and Passion Grooming Shoppe and Pet Boutique at 413 Delaware Ave. in May 2006, had asked for a variance after her request initially was denied by borough Zoning Officer Duane Dellecker.

It was unclear whether Wiegard would appeal the ruling. Efforts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful.

She previously said she hoped to increase the number of pets she sees each day -- usually six to eight -- to about a dozen by adding a doggie day care to her list of grooming and spa treatment services.

She said a lot of people who work long hours or go on day trips had asked her about dog-sitting.

She had proposed building kennels in a garage at the rear of her business's property and adding a privacy fence around the yard to cut down on noise and keep the dogs contained. She did not plan any new structures but said that one or two additional employees would have been needed.

Wiegand said no dogs would have been boarded overnight, and their owners would have been required to show proof of up-to-date vaccinations for each animal. Dogs also would have undergone temperament testing before being accepted.